08/21/2005: "Naga problem political: Rio"

Naga problem political: Rio OUR CORRESPONDENT Kohima, Aug. 20: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio today said inter-factional killings cannot be seen as a law and order problem as they arise out of political problems. Rio was replying to the Opposition Congress’s accusation that the state was turning lawless, as factional killings were on the rise along with harassment of innocent people through intimidation and extortion. He requested Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie to call a meeting of all former and present legislators to discuss the Naga political problem. Earlier, Opposition members walked out and protested when home minister Thenucho referred to violence during the Congress regime. Rio said former Prime Minister, late P. V. Narasimha Rao had admitted that the Naga problem was a political one.
Rio said Nagaland has a political issue to address, which is different from law and order. He said the Opposition took everything as a law and order problem. To prove his claim, Rio enlisted events from the submission of a memorandum by Nagas to the Simon Commission in 1929, through the plebiscite of 1951, to the signing of ceasefire agreements with the NSCN factions in 1997 and 2001. Rio almost shrugged off the Congress issue, saying that since there was no ceasefire between the rebel factions, they were fighting among themselves.
Senior leader Chinwang Konyak said villagers in Mon district were of the view that the ceasefire agreement of underground groups should not be extended. Imkong said Nagaland had lost the trust of the Centre and other states due to fake gun licences in the state. “They suspect Nagaland state government is being run by underground activists (rebels),” said Imkong. More than 23,000 gun licences have been issued in the state since 1999, most of them to applicants from outside Nagaland. Rio argued that his government had issued very few licences and passed the buck to the Congress. Opposition leaders said the government was shielding chargesheeted government officials in Dimapur and asked for their immediate suspension.
ANSAM warns blockade resumption Source: The Sangai Express
Senapati, August 20 (NNN): The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has warned that it may resume the non-cooperation agitation including re-imposition of economic blockade anytime. In an exclusive interview somewhere in Senapati district, ANSAM spokesman Ngachonmi Chamroy informed this Network today that since the Manipur Government has not reciprocated to the gesture shown by the agitating party (ANSAM and NSF), the date to resume the economic blockade may be announced any time. Chamroy, accusing the State Government for the present turmoil contended that "on the request of the State Government ANSAM had indicated a date to hold a talk on August-18 with some terms and conditions but to our dismay the Government has decided to betray us by buying time".
The ANSAM spokesman also blamed the State Government saying that the latter was not creating a conducive atmosphere whereas the agitating party had, in good faith, suspended the indefinite economic blockade in the interest of the general public. The ANSAM spokesman, has also appealed to the public and civil organisations to lend their support and cooperation in our quest for justice".
ANSAM then said that it condemned the incident where Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) leaders and volunteers were arrested; tear gassed or shot at by the Govt machineries. The ANSAM spokesman said that the Naga students would extend full support to the movement launched by the ZSF in CCpur.

RB flexes muscle for come back Source: The Sangai Express Imphal, August 20: A sea change in the political scenario of Manipur is likely to take place with former Chief Minister Koijam Radhabinod and a battery of other ex-MLAs and Ministers 'on the verge' of joining Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In an exclusive chat with The Sangai Express, Koijam, who is also the former general secretary of North East People's Forum said “all my workers, sympathisers and well-wishers particularly from by Constituency have unanimously endorsed me to join NCP and a meeting in this regard was held recently".
The 68-year old political heavyweight had taken semi-retirement from politics and de-linked himself from any political parties since September, 2003. But with the next Assembly election just two years away, he exuded confN dence of setting up a strong political force to capture power in the Assembly election. 'Now, I intend to join politics full time again and am likely to join NCP which I think is the best way of serving the State and the people'', he said. Hailing from Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency, Koijam entered politics in the late 70s and got elected as a member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly as an independent candidate and later joined the Congress party. He has served as Minister for five terms and became the Chief Minister of the State in 2001 under the flag of Samata Party. Elaborating on his application of mind to join NCP, Koijam said PA Sangma, who floated the NCP and later joined Trinamool Congress is likely to return to the NCP fold. The party's national secretary Tariq Anwar has also been asked to visit the State to assess and consider the desire of many heavy weight politicians of the State to join the NCP, he added. "We may go to New Delhi to attend a meeting in this regard on August 21," he disclosed. He said that over 10 ex-MLAs and Ministers are also on the verge of joining NCP and some of them have even resigned from their respective political parties. However, he declined to disclose the names of the would be NCP members. Apart from this, a host of sitting MLAs are also likely to join NCP as soon as their present terms expire, he said, adding with optimism "I can foresee our team capturing power in the next Assembly election".

Meanwhile, former Minister Kunjo Singh and treasurer of the Opposition Federal Party of Manipur (FPM) disclosed that he along with his party workers have resigned en masse from the party. "I have already submitted the resignation letter to the party president. The en masse resignation followed a meeting of all my workers and well-wishers recently", he said. However, Kunjo, declined to spell out to which party he would join saying spell out to which party he would join saying 'I'll inform you definitely within a short time and there might be a sudden political development by that time. Efforts to contact NCP State unit president V Hangkhalian for his comments on this political development drew blank.

TNWL clarifies Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20: Reacting to the statement of MLA A Aza in a Nagaland based newspaper, wherein he dubbed all the signatories of the MoU on August 13 as betrayers, the Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long today said that it stuck to the MoU which said that Independence Day will not be boycotted. In a statement, TNWL said that it stuck by the MoU and did not boycott Independence Day and added that more than 30 members of the TNWL participated in the Independence Day Celebration on August 15. After the MoU was signed it was decided that the Independence Day will not boycotted, said the village chiefs but added that in a sudden development the president of TKS with the consent of the president of TNL announced that the boycott of Independence still stands. However TNWL did not toe the line of TKS and participated in the Independence Day celebration, added the statement.

Congress rejects State logo, white paper
KOHIMA, Aug 20: Opposition Congress today rejected the recently adopted Nagaland state logo and the government white paper on utilisation of special central grant of Rs 365 crore.
“We are not opposed to a state emblem but we reject this DAN logo because it was adopted by the state cabinet without any transparency and procedure,” Opposition leader I Imkong told newsmen here after the end of the three-day monsoon session of the Nagaland Assembly. The CLP leader pointed out that instead of the Chief Minister himself choosing the artist and the logo, the government should have appointed an expert committee to finalise a state emblem taking all into confidence.
Moreover, in the present logo the ‘mithun’ or bison was “sick, not authoritative and majestic and the words ‘Government of Nagaland’ should have been above the word ‘unity’,” Imkong observed.
He said, “It might be the DAN government logo but it cannot be a state emblem, hence we cannot accept it.” The Nagaland Government adopted the state logo on August 15. Imkong said his party rejected the white paper on utilization of Rs 365 crore special central grant tabled by Chief Minister Neiphu Rio on the floor of the House as it was “bereft of details on fund spending”.
Terming the publication as “an empty white paper”, the Congress leader alleged that during the reign of DAN “corruption at all levels surpassed all previous records and it was the most weak and confused government”. – PTI

Peace rally staged in Manipur From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, Aug 20 – Demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, Amnesty International India in association with many social and students bodies, staged a peace rally in Imphal today. The rally, which kicked off from the Thangmeiband Athletic Union ground in Imphal West at around 12.30 pm, passed through the main streets of Imphal before it converged at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre, one of the biggest open air theatre in the North-east India in Imphal East for a public meeting. Security forces deployed in the state committed many crimes and atrocities in the name of counter-insurgency operations under the banner of Draconian laws like Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 which was imposed in Manipur since the past few decades. People of this region had been protesting the repeal of such laws from NE.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also constituted a committee to look into the matter and the committee had already submitted their report to the government. Thangjam Manorama, a 32-year-old Manipur girl was raped and killed by the Assam Rifles after she was picked up from her residence in Imphal east last year June which evoked widespread protest in Manipur.

No political talks until Delhi tackles NSCN(IM) issue: Mulatonu
NSCN(K) wants new truce chief By Wasbir Hussain
GUWAHATI, Aug 20: The NSCN(K) has made it clear today that it would not enter into political negotiations with the Centre until New Delhi resolved the issue with the rival NSCN(IM). The NSCN(K) has also expressed its ‘lack of trust’ on the current chief of the Ceasefire Monitoring Board in Nagaland, Lt Gen (retd) Kulkarni, and has demanded the appointment of a separate chairman to monitor the prevailing truce with the group. Talking to this writer ahead of a crucial meeting with the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi, slated for Monday, NSCN(K) ‘finance minister’ K. Mulatonu, said: "We have decided on not starting any political dialogue with the Government of India before the close of the chapter with the NSCN(IM). If New Delhi cannot solve the NSCN(IM) problem, how could it possibly resolve the issues raised by our group, the NSCN(K)."
The NSCN(K)-MHA meeting will be the first direct interaction between the two sides after the ceasefire between the rebel group and the Government was extended on April 28 for another year. The NSCN(K)-Government truce has been in place with yearly extensions since 2001. The MHA team will be headed by the Special Secretary (North-east) Rajiv Agarwal while the three-member NSCN(K) delegation will be led by C. Singson, the outfit’s ‘external affairs minister.’ Mulatonu said that his group would make a number of things clear to the Centre and press for their implemention in ‘accordance to our wishes.’ He said: "We would like the Government of India to state and declare the outcome so far of the eight years of negotiations that it had with the NSCN(IM). There has been no transparency in the dialogue and that’s not acceptable."
But, the NSCN(K) has been extremely bitter about the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee that is currently in place. "We want the ceasefire ground rules to be modified. More importantly, we want a separating chairman to look after the truce matters involving our group because Gen Kulkarni is openly favouring the NSCN(IM). Let him continue to head the truce cell and look after the NSCN(IM) matters, but we must have a separate chairperson," Mulatonu said. Gen Kulkarni could not be immediately contacted for comment.

Delimitation exercise: Centre urged to exempt Nagaland Assam Tribune
KOHIMA, Aug 20 – Nagaland Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to exempt Nagaland from the current delimitation exercise till a fresh population census was carried out in the state and finding a political settlement to the vexed Naga political problem. The government resolution said the census of 2001 was erroneous and redrawing of Assembly segment at this juncture would create trouble in ethnically sensitive state when the Nagas were longing for peace and permanent setlement of the Naga issue.
In another resolution passed by the House on the closing day of the brief monsoon session, the government urged the Centre to increase the size of the state Assembly from the present 60 to 80 and hike seats of Lok Sabha MP from one to three and Rajya Sabha from one to two. Earlier during Question Hour, members expressed serious concern over delay in disbursement of post-matric scholarship to students. But the government explained that the delay was caused by the fresh rules and guidelines framed by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Ministry of Tribal Affairs and now the scholarship money would be released from this month itself. – PTI

ANSAM likely to re-impose economic blockade NET News Network Imphal, Aug 20: After a temporary respite, the woes and difficulties associated with economic blockade on NH 39 and 53 threatens to come back again giving sleepless nights to Manipur government. According to a reliable source, All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) is likely to re-impose blockade on the highways after failing to receive possible response from the government. “ They are most likely going to announce the exact date of recommencement of the blockade on Sunday,” informed the source. Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi who accompanied Union Home Secretary B K Duggal to New Delhi on August 17 had a series of meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
It may be recalled that ANSAM on August 11 last temporarily lifted the 50 day old economic blockade on humanitarian ground and expressed hope that Manipur government would revoke its decision regarding June 18 Integrity Day. The Manipur CM too during his Independence Day speech promised to find an amicable solution to the ANSAM issue. Meanwhile, the Union government in its bid to minimize difficulties during future economic blockade on NH 39 sanctioned an amount of rupees seven crores for development of NH 53 and other communication networks
NSCN (K) shoots IM cadre at Loktak Project The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, Aug 20: A mobile team of the NSCN-K killed a cadre of the rival NSCN-IM today at the Loktak Project area under Bishenpur police station. Informing this to Newmai News Network a spokesman of the NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region, Lishi, said that a member of the NSCN-IM, Dinkachin Dangmei hailing from Dalon village of the Loktak project area was killed today by the NSCN-K of the Zeliangrong Region at Loktak project area after arresting him. The NSCN-K spokesman blamed CAO, Zeliangrong Region, MK Winning of the NSCN-IM for the killing saying that the threats and warnings from the CAO of the Zeliangrong Region, NSCN-IM to the NSCN-K had prompted the kiling of the NSCN-IM member today.
Chronicling the events which led to the kiling of the NSCN-IM member today, the NSCN-K spokesman said that Dinkachin Dangmei was arrested at 2 a.m today from a place in Loktak Project area by a mobile team of the NSCN-K. Following the arrest various Zeliangrong based social organisations including Zeliangrong Union, Zeliangrong womenfolk, LNC and social workers of the community approached the outfit (NSCN-K) appealing for the release of the arrested NSCN-IM cadre from the custody of the NSCN-K, narrated the NSCN-K spokesman. The spokesman further said that even the family members of the arrested NSCN-IM cadre requested the outfit to release Dangmei. After a thorough discussion and consultation among the leaders of the Zeliangrong Region of the NSCN-K, the outfit was ready to release the NSCN-IM cadre on humanitarian ground and also paying heed to the appeals from the various quarters,said the NSCN-K leader.
He said that when the mobile team of the NSCN-K was on the way to release the arrested NSCN-IM cadre, threats and warning came forth from the NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong Region CAO, MK Winning that the NSCN-IM cadre should be released immediately without any delay or the NSCN-K would face dire consequences. The NSCN-K leader said that Winning's warning and threats had prompted the killing of the NSCN-IM member. The NSCN-K leader also accused Winning as one Zeliangrong leader whose actions and dealings would definitely destroy the Zeliangrong society if he continues to remain as a leader. He further said that a government should treat another government with respect but the way Winning dealt with things were not right. Giving more accounts of today's incident, the Zeliangrong Region of the NSCN-K spokesman said that just after the arrest the NSCN-IM member was thoroughly interrogated by the NSCN-K's mobile team. The NSCN-IM member disclosed that he joined the NSCN-IM in 1999 and on September 15 the same year he was party to the killing of a lance corporal of the NSCN-K identified as Kaguigai Kamei hailing from Longjang village under Nungba sub-division in Tamenglong district. Dinkachin Dangmei also disclosed that he had ordered to bury alive one arrested member of the NSCN-K. however, the NSCN-K cadre had escaped, he added. .According to the spokesman of the NSCN-K, Dinkachin Dangmei, as per disclosures during the interrogation, was incharge in serving notice in the Loktak Project area that no tax should be given to the NSCN-K, all family members of those cadres who join the NSCN-K would be killed and anybody who gave shelter to the NSCN-K would be chased away from the area.

A town together in grief Indian Express
Leishichon Shaiza left Ukhrul in Manipur to find a job in Mumbai. A month later her coffin came home. The town remembers its favourite daughter, murdered one mad evening at the Gateway of India ARTYK VENKATRAMAN UKHRUL, MANIPUR: OVER a month ago, Leishichon Shaiza left her cloud-covered hometown of Ukhrul, about 90 km from Manipur’s capital Imphal. When she set off for Mumbai to seek a new future, she was carrying with her Rs 18,000 that her father Yangchan — a class-IV government employee — had given her, and of course the hopes of her family. For them, she was the next bread-winner in the family. On the evening of July 13, Leishichon’s dreams came to an end when she was brutally stabbed to death by a man the police claim is mentally deranged. She was feeding pigeons and clicking photographs with her cousin Ngahuimi Raleng near the Gateway of India when the attacker struck. On November 23, Leishichon would have turned 23. On Wednesday, when The Sunday Express visited Ukhrul, it was already 24 hours since she had been accorded a funeral that went, for the first time, against the tradition of her Baptist Church. The funeral service was held in the church and not at home as per custom. It was attended by the largest crowd of mourners Ukhrul can remember. FOR her parents Tharawon and Yangchan, the time for inconsolable sorrow had passed. That had been on Independence Day eve, when the coffin had come from Imphal airport. Today, it was about trying desperately to come to terms with reality. For her parents, Leishichon was no ordinary child. Her three elder brothers are school dropouts. And unemployment for such comes easy in this hill town that has a population of 10,000. Both her younger sisters are married.
‘‘Leishichon was the only one among our children who wanted to study. She had to drop out in her second year of undergraduate studies (from Guwahati) owing to ill health, in 2003. She stayed at home and while she recuperated, she would give Sunday School lessons at the Church and was also a distributor for a marketing agency,’’ says Yangchan, whose monthly salary of Rs 5,200 sustains the family. By July this year, Leishichon had recovered and wanted to make up for lost time. ‘‘She went to Mumbai to complete her education while working part-time to support herself. We were hoping she’d do well,’’ adds her mother. Not able to afford a flight ticket, Leishichon took an arduous, circuitous route through the ridge-backed hills of Manipur — changing three buses via Imphal, Dimapur in Nagaland and on to Guwahati, before boarding a train to Mumbai. ‘‘I accompanied her till Dimapur, where I put her on a bus to Guwahati; that’s the last I saw her alive,’’ adds Yangchan. LEISHICHON’S body was accompanied to Ukhrul — by her cousin Augustine Shamray. Augustine, a freelance DJ and tattoo artiste in Pune, heard about Leishichon’s murder on a TV news channel. ‘‘I couldn’t believe that Leishichon was the Manipuri girl attacked at the Gateway of India. I called her cellphone, which was answered by a policeman. He confirmed it was indeed my cousin.’’ Augustine remembers his cousin as someone who loved music and having loads of fun. ‘‘I saw her killer at the police station in Mumbai. He didn’t look crazy to me. He looked like a petty thief and very much sane. Our Oriental features seem to make us soft targets in mainland India,’’ he says. Ukhrul district, which goes by the same name as its biggest town, is dominated by the Tangkhul Naga tribe which comprises around 90 per cent of its population. Leishichon belonged to this community. Meanwhile, Leishichon’s cousin Ngahuimi Raleng, who was injured when she tried to stop the attacker, is improving according to updates reaching her family in Ukhrul.
‘‘I had planned on going to Mumbai, but Ngahuimi’s Delhi-based brother has reached her side. Once she is discharged, the family will decide whether to bring her home or not,’’ says Ngahuimi’s mother Kahaola. Her husband passed away several years ago, and Ngahuimi has been sending money home since almost a year now, she adds. For the residents of Ukhrul that’s perched some 2,600 metre above sea-level, the stunning splendour of their town seems to have dimmed. But life has a way of going on. The air of stunned disbelief persists though. The blue-green hills of Ukhrul, it seemed, were remembering a favourite daughter who tried, by all accounts, to rise above the odds.
PM speech fails to strike a chord Hari Shankar Vijas The Pioneer
People who had hoped that Manmohan Singh's speech from the Red Fort would be vibrant and inspiring were disappointed. This year's speech was mostly a repeat of last year's theme - education empowerment of women, adivasis, ports, highways or relations with Pakistan. The PM did talk of converting quadrangular highways into six-lanes but did not say why the ongoing construction of four-lane expressways had been left in the lurch. The speech shows that Dr Singh is unable to come out of his bureaucratic mould. Many people feel that his address was a bureaucrat's routine stereotyped speech. A review of the tenures of different governments during the last three decades shows that the first phase is of honeymoon. In the second tenure, people become sceptical about the Government's sincerity and give it only benefit of doubt. During the third phase, frustrated people declare the Government worthless and start thinking of its removal. The Manmohan Singh Government is at the fringe of the second phase. Incidentally, the Left and some other allies have started viewing the Government with scepticism or uselessness. It is a fact that during the past 15 months, the PM has not taken a decision or made a speech that could be described as spectacular. Yet, of course, it must be said that Dr Singh tendered a heartfelt apology in the context of the Nanavati Commission Report. It had the desired impact on the people and cemented his image of a well-intentioned person.
Neglect of N-E
It is tragic that neither the Government nor the country is bothered about the north-east. This is why certain ominous development took place there on the Independence Day. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced that Bangladeshis who migrated to the State before 1971 would be granted citizenship. The question is, when was the constitutional right to grant citizenship transferred to the State Government? Only the Home Ministry can confer the citizenship. On August 15, Khasi students' union and women held a rally in Shillong. Students burnt the Tricolour in front of the Meghalaya Chief Minister's house. Manipur is already observing bandh for sometime. The Congress Government feels helpless. Despite Nagaland having a 44-member Naga National Front Government, Congress leaders are trying for the transfer of Governor Shyamal Dutta to oust the present regime. Arunachal PCC chief Mukul Mithi has launched a war against Chief Minister Apang which has caused political uncertainty. Yet, no one in the Home Ministry is bothered.
Lalu in trouble
Reports suggest that RJD is in trouble in Bihar where Assembly elections are due in a couple of months. Ram Vilas Paswan and CPI leaders know this. As compared to the Congress and CPM, Paswan and the CPI or CPI(ML) are well-entrenched among the people. They know the bureaucracy will not be forced to help the RJD. The way chief secretary Kang challenged the authority of Governor Buta Singh and the RJD supremo, one can expect the administration to work against RJD with vengeance. The Election Commission is seized of the machinations of the RJD boss and his musclemen. This is why Paswan had decided to forge the Third Front. Lalu has tried to cajole and even intimidate Paswan to fall in line. His last weapon would be to see him out early September and bring in Ajit Singh.
Left returns
Left leaders would attend the UPA coordination committee meeting. They changed their mood after P Chidambaram changed his stand on disinvestment. At the behest of the Prime Minister, Chidambaram announced the decision not to disinvest certain PSU and Navaratnas. Now that the diesel and petrol prices are expected to be raised again, the Left would get another opportunity to pressure the Government
Next CBI chief
Hectic lobbying has begun for the post of CBI's next director. The list of names include CRPF's Jyoti Kumar Sinha, Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul and Tilak Kak from UP. While Sinha may find himself out of the race for his own reasons, Paul and Kak have their own base.
Lobbying for CVC
Two CVC members Janaki Ballabh Khandelwal and Andhra Cadre police officer H D Dora are retiring in October. Hectic lobbying has begun for the two posts. CBI director U S Mishra is said to be eyeing the position held by Dora. Mishra is due to retire in December but he can get a few more years to work if he gets into the CVC. Kohli, a former chairman of Punjab National Bank, is lobbying for the position to be vacated by Khandelwal.
Ajit Jogi in trouble
At last, Ajit Jogi had to take Ram Jethmalani's help. Jogi took him along in a special plane to Raipur where the lawyer appeared in a court to seek bail for Jogi's son Amit. However, the bail was not granted. The fact that CBI did not show any laxity in pursuing the case dashed Ajit Jogi's hopes. He is now cursing the UPA Government for not extending the desired help. Jogi is facing heavy odds at every stage. This time, no crowd of Congressmen turned up to receive him at the Raipur airport. His lobbying for getting into the Manmohan Singh Cabinet has failed. Jogi is a former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister but is not being consulted about appointment of the next PCC president. In the first place, PCC president Moti Lal Vora is not vacating his post. If he quits, Mahant Charan Das appears to be the consensus candidate. It is not surprising that Jogi is claiming to be a victim of the Brahmin clique consisting of Vora, Shukla brothers, Suresh Pachauri and CBI director Mishra.

Rally rings out anti-AFSPA stand Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20: Kicking off the campaign of Amnesty International against the prolonged imposition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in the North Eastern States, a» mass public rally was taken out in Imphal today. The rally sponsored by Amnesty International, London was organised by its New Delhi Chapter in association with various social organisations of Manipur. A large number of people including representatives of Meira Paibis, clubs, organisations and student bodies converged at THAU ground, Thangmeiband to take part in the rally right from early morning. However, the rally was finally flagged off only at 12.30 noon. The rallyists carried placards inscribing the names of the persons who have been killed, raped and disappeared after being picked up by security personnel since the imposition of the draconian Act. They also carried banners/festoons with slogans like 'We want peace', 'Down with racist law', 'Give us food not boots and bullets', 'Justice delayed is justice denied', etc while shouting slogans demanding repealing of AFSPA, j ustice to the people and decrying the excesses of the security forces.
Heading towards the north from THAU ground, the rally snaked through Thangmeiband Lilasingkhongnangkhong, Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak and arrived at Lamlong Bazar. From there, the rallyists proceeded toward the Minuthong Telipati road and New Checkoh and converged at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre where a public meeting was held. Chairman of Manipur Human Rights Commission Retired Justice WA Shishak and senior member of Amnesty International India Babloo Loitongbam occupied the dais as chief guest and president respectively. Noted female Manipuri writer MK Binodini was also present at the occasion as guest of honour.

Prof Riyajuddin Choudhury, former MHRC member Yambem Laba and retired Lt Col Sarat were among the host of dignitaries who spoke on AFSPA during the meeting. Campaign Assistant of Amnesty International, India Ksh Onil was also present at the occasion. In his address as chief guest, Shishak said that AFSPA has been imposed in Manipur and other North Eastern States long enough and now it would be removed. People should continue to launch Anti- AFSPA campaign relentlessly until the Gov of India repeals the Act not only from Manipur but also from the whole North East region, he said. In his presidential address, Babloo Loitongbam observed that the rally taken out today had shown to the world of the solidarity of the people against imposition of black laws.
Although AFSPA imposed for the purpose of counter insurgency, but it has failed to serve purpose. Instead has given rise to more number of underground outfits and the people are being subjecting to various atrocities in the hands of the security personnel, he said.
Who are the Nagas By: Akendra Sana Kangla on line There was little Kevichituo in 1966 in Class Two. He had a bigger brother named Ahu who was a good footballer as seen through our small eyes then. They were Sakhrie and Angami from Kohima, we later learnt. I cannot remember how we communicated to one another. It must have been some smiles, some Manipuri, a little English if at all. Life was simple then. Then there was stong Thoiba Maram, who later became Thoiba Angelus. Maram Khunjao and Khunou meant something to us later because of him. I can also recall Borpha , Dearson Moyon, Indrajit Moyon and Daso Mao and Ngale Mao in that Class. Dearson later preferred the complete name Dearson David Chara and Indrajit became Michale, Komlathabi and Chandel became familiar because of Borpha, Dearson and Michale. Daso was the delight of the Class. He could draw well from a very young age and could keep everyone happy with his wit and drawings.

Friendship with Tillwealth Jajo began in Class Three and continued till his death in very unfortunate circumstances in Class Eight in 1972. He always had Athem and Grinder, the well behaved Muivah cousins for company on his way to and from school during those years. Adin Panmei completed the foursome in their walk to and from the school. And Somipam Lungleng was always alive with his pranks. And there was small Shangreihao, ever the willing friend. Stylish Daniel Jajo added colour to our lives. He was into long hair, boots and bell bottoms long before anyone of us had long hairs and bell bottoms. There were also Shymyo Shaiza and Maranchan Luikham, the quiet cousins who used to come to school together. There was also Pelevituo Francis Solo from Kohima Village. It was a delight to renew old ties in Kohima many years later. I also recall Vikui Emerson, the ever-practical fellow patrol leader in our Boy Scout days who now runs a school in Senapati. Pius, Titus and John Murray Lotha made all the way from Wokha in Nagaland to join the boarding school in Imphal. John is better remembered amongst many of his schoolmates for his skills on the guitar and as a vocalist. Small boys that they were then probably did not comprehend how far they had come for schooling. But then those were innocent days. Dr. John Murray is today a leading light in the Naga Hoho after a stint as a Nagaland Government doctor.
One of my best friends in those formative years was Lorho Mao who is now Dr. Lorho Pfozhe. He along with his wife, Apinao is doing wonderful work in the field of rural healthcare in the Mao area of Manipur bordering Nagaland after working as a Manipur Government doctor and as an entrepreneur for some years. Incidentally, I may add that Lorho speaks better Manipuri than most whose mother tongue is Manipuri. And there was Sokho Mao who is today Sokho George who we later were told is a Poumai and not Mao. After college at IIT Delhi, Sokho has been an Assistant Engineer with the Manipur Government for more than twenty years now. This is a situation he appears uncomfortable to be in because of the sheer length of service in one rank. But then we all know him for his other skills and talents. A passionate and brilliant speaker, there will definitely be better things in store for him.
I am happy to treasure their friendships in our growing years and later. I am happy to have known them well. Imphal must be a distant past for many of these friends today.And I am today happy that I do not have to know instead those individuals who obstruct traffic in our highways. How unfortunate that obstructing traffic on the highways has been developed into something of an advanced form of a performing art. Victim of the innocent sounding “Economic Blockade” is not the economy but the society itself, the social fabric that binds us all, irrespective of what names the ethnic groups address themselves. Whenever I used to drive between Imphal and Dimapur, I would always imagine that I would meet some old friend on the way. And indeed on many occasions, I would invariably come across at least one of them particularly in the Senapati - Mao stretch on such drives. On many occasions, I would train my eyes towards the door at that bend at Mao whenever I cross Dr. Lorho’s house. I know that I would halt or wave if I saw anyone at the door.
Thousands take part in Amnesty rally in Imphal for total repeal of AFSPA Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Aug 20: A mass rally organised by Amnesty International India as a part of their one day campaign to press for the repeal Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 passed off peacefully with the participation of thousands of people of different age groups and without any untoward incidents amidst tight security today. The mass rally kicked off from THAU ground in Thangmeiband at around 12.30 pm and reached the Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre at Palace compound around 4.30 in the evening where a meeting was held with many prominent human rights activists of the state present on the dais. The chairman of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, WA Sishak and renowned writer, MK Binodini were the chief guests of today’s meeting. Other dignitaries included the former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission, Yambem Laba, human rights activists Babalu Loitongbam, social worker, Liyauddin, Retired Lt. Colonel Sharat and human rights activist, Onil.

Speaking at the meeting, WA Sishak said that as men we have to protect our rights. That is the spirit behind what we are doing but as a chairman of a human right commission he himself is in a condition where he is not getting pay from the Manipur government. This is the condition of human rights in the state, he said. Talking about the present condition of the commission, he went on to say that the commission which was established with the objective of protecting the rights of the people is now suffering from shortage of finance. I feels ashamed of the condition of this commission, he added. Reiterating that even as the people of the state are demanding removal of AFSPA from the state for such a long time there seems to be no movement forward. This has made the people of Manipur feel like foreigners within the Indian union, Shishak lamented. Yambem Laba, former member of the MHRC and founder of the human rights movement in Manipur, narrated the development of the AFSPA - beginning from the British colonial 1942 Armed forces Special Power Ordinance.
He also spoke on how the Human Rights Forum, Manipur had in 1980, challenged the constitutional validity of the AFSPA in the Supreme Court of India and how after 17 years, the Supreme Court had delivered its verdict in 1997. The former MHRC member also highlighted the developments following the death of Th Manorama and the storming of AR gate by the meira paibis resulting in the national movement for the repeal of the act. Earlier, the rally proceeded from THAU ground toward the Dingku road and passed through Lamlong bazar then turning towards Minuthong and Konung mamang entering Palace compound and finally concluding at the BOAT. Along the entire route the rallyists shouted various slogans like ‘repeal AFSPA, 1958 from the state as well as from the entire northeast India’, ‘Give us food not boot’, ‘We want just peace’, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ etc. the rallyists also held placards displaying the names of the victims of the security forces since the imposition of AFSPA in the state. In a leaflet distributed to the people during the rally Amnesty International India demanded the repeal of AFSPA, 1958 stating that the act empowers security forces to arrest and enter any premises without warrants and gives the security forces power to shoot to kill in circumstances where members of the security forces are in imminent risk.
Drawing attention of the Government of India, Amnesty International stated that any legislation should comply fully with international human rights and humanitarian law treaties to which India is a party, especially the ICCPR and the four Geneva Conventions as well as taking into account more detailed standards including the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the UN Principles for the prevention of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions and the UN Declaration on the Protection of all persons from Enforced Disappearances they also demanded for the repeal of the Act saying that the main provisions of the Act violates international humans rights law and facilitated grave human rights violation. Reiterating the difficulties face by human rights defenders, the statement stated that they suffered increased isolation as their activities were frequently branded as “anti-national” by the state and non-state actors, and further said that this happened in particular when they sought to raise human rights concerns through debates about security.
About the AFSPA, 1958, the leaflet said that it facilities impunity because no person can start legal action against any member of the armed forces for anything done under the Act, or purported to be done under the Act, without the permission of the Central government. Security forces continue to enjoy virtual impunity for human rights violations as a result of provisions contained in Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958. Political protection, as well as the frequent non-implementation of recommendations issued by various commission of inquiry, strengthened this trend, it added. Amnesty International India is deeply concerned about reports of grave human rights abuses perpetrated by armed groups and government forces in areas where the AFSPA is in force. In both Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast human rights abuses have become a feature of daily life, the leaflet stated. Expressing concerned about abuses perpetrated by armed groups, Amnesty International’s statement also stated that armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast are responsible for gross human rights abuses, including torture, hostage taking, extorting and killing of civilians. Amnesty International condemns abuses by armed groups and calls on such groups to respect minimum human rights standards and principles of international humanitarian law and to immediately halt killing of civilians, torture, ill-treatment, hostage-taking and other abuses, it further said.

Khalistan groups holds demonstration in Washington
Sunday 14th August, 2005 Anoop Singh - Panthic Weekly Staff Washington-DC, USA (KP) - According to a press note published by the Council of Khalistan on August 12, 2005, Sikhs from around the East Coast will gather by the Gandhi statue at the Indian Embassy on Q St. between 21st St. and Massachusetts Ave. NW in Washington, DC on Monday, August 15, 2005, at 9:15 a.m. to protest the celebration of Indian Independence Day. In case the celebrations are held at the Indian Ambassador’s residence, the demonstration will move there. According to the information recieved by the Panthic Weekly, the demonstration will be held to commemorate the Sikhs and other minorities murdered by the Indian government since Indian independence, to demand the release of all political prisoners, and to demand a sovereign, independent Khalistan. "India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, according to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy and human-rights groups and reported in the book 'The Politics of Genocide' by Inderjeet Singh Jaijee. It has also killed over 89,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, and thousands of Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the country, as well as tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits , Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities," the press release stated. According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in illegal custody since 1984! Amnesty International reported that tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held as political prisoners. Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police custody. His body was not given to his family. The police never released the body of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna murdered him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial for the Jathedar Kaunke murder. No one has been brought to justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra. “Although Sikhs gave 80 percent of the sacrifices for India’s independence, India has massacred Sikhs since achieving independence,” said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, which is leading the demonstration. On October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared its independence from India, naming its new country Khalistan. “Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the repression and lift the standard of living for the people of Punjab. We are here to demand freedom and self-determination, rather than the genocide that has been inflicted on us for so many years,” he said. “Democracies don’t commit genocide.”
The Kohima-Kalina express Renu Savant finds Manipur, Nagaland and Assam in Santacruz Express Features Service Mumbai, August 20: You can call this, says Nobert Khayi, his hands creating a horizontal arc, ‘‘Mumbai’s mini North-East.’’ Twenty-eight-year old Khayi’s ‘this’ is the Kolovari Colony in Kalina, a typical East Indian settlement in Santacruz with winding lanes and little cottages. If Matunga is considered a South Indian enclave and Vile Parle, a Gujarati suburb, Kolovari Colony is home for a majority of people who hail from the North-East. More than 500 youngsters, most of them Nagas, live in the area around the Kalina market. According to Khayi, who is vice president of the Mumbai’s Naga Students Union and a student at the Mumbai University, the first lot of students and job seekers came here around 10 years ago. What attracted them were the low rents. ‘‘You also didn’t have to pay deposits here,’’ says Khayi, who shares his flat with room mates Apam Ramror and Ningsem Shimra. Ramror, 20, has just come down to Mumbai to join the merchant navy. Shimra, 19, is a commerce student at the Elphinstone College. Word soon got around and every potential job seeker and student from the North East knew that he could, at the least, be among his own in Kalina. Aboli Awomi from Nagaland was one of them. ‘‘I came here through an uncle of mine, who knew the place and the people here,’’ says the 22-year-old who works in a five-star hotel and keeps late working hours. ‘‘I feel safe because there are people from my community.’’ Most of the people living in Kalina, says Awomi, are from the Naga tribes. Which means that when Khayi walks through the lanes of the colony, he meets at least ten people from his tribe. Khayi says that the elders take care of the youngsters and conduct surveys to keep track of people new to the city. While last week’s murder of Leishichon Shaiza caused much concern, Awomi, Khayi and their friends say that what it really brought to the fore was Mumbai’s lack of awareness about the North- East and its people. ‘‘After last week’s incident, there has been a lot of writing on our community,’’ says accountancy student Jurist Chithung, 22. ‘‘Half the newspapers have not even got the murdered girl’s name right,’’ says Khayi. Why, Apam is always called ‘kancha’ (Nepali for boy) though is a proud Naga. ‘‘People think we are all Manipuris. The Nagas have many tribes, who are spread across three or four states in the North East,’’ says Chithung. Even in Kalina, says Chithung, conversations between people of different Naga tribes happens only in English or the common Nagamese language, since most Naga tribes have their own ialects. That is also the reason why Naga and Manipuri people in the Kolovari colony have different groups. ‘‘Each tribe has it own rules.” Awomi sums it up best: ‘‘To outsiders we are one, we are from the North-East, but we have as many cultural differences between us as the different states in North and South India.’’

Goswami framed APCC letter’ ULFA demands prompt apology as Brindabon denies charge By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 20: In a sensational revelation, the proscribed ULFA today charged AGP president Brindabon Goswami of masterminding the missive, supposedly written by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee secretary MH Choudhury, to the outfit stating that three Congress ministers — Gautam Roy, Anjan Dutta and Himanta Biswa Sarma — have agreed to pay Rs 5 lakh each to the outfit per month besides the payment of Rs 30 lakh made earlier to it. The ULFA also demanded a public apology from Goswami saying that if it was not forthcoming Goswami’s political career would go the Prafulla Kumar Mahanta way. In an e-mail missive to media houses, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said that a ULFA probe has proved that it was Goswami who had forged the letter written on the APCC letter head. The ULFA said that the letter was meant to discredit the ULFA chairman and his unequivocal patriotism. The ULFA chairman also accused Goswami of carrying out casteist politics in the State and casting aspersion on the revolutionary ethics of the ULFA leader. The ULFA, in a reiteration, said that the way former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta’s political career has been sent for a toss for masterminding the secret killings in the State, Goswami, too, would face the ULFA music if a public apology does not come through. It is worth mentioning here that the letter had created a furore in the Assam Assembly with the AGP and BJP even staging a walk-out. The Congress, on its part, had said in the floor of the Assembly that the letter was fake and should not be entertained, failing which a bad precedent would be established in the State. For the record, the Congress had also issued a show-cause notice to MH Choudhury to which the latter had replied. Even Transport Minister Anjan Dutta had asked the city SSP for a thorough probe into the affair. Reacting on the development, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the ULFA letter had vindicated the Congress’ stand. On the other hand, State observers have termed the ULFA allegation as the biggest political challenge for AGP leader Brindabon Goswami. The party has, of late, been weakened by splits at all levels. With elections round the corner, Goswami needs to prove his political mettle, they said. Meanwhile, Brindabon Goswami, who is in New Delhi, said when contacted that neither he nor his party was involved in the episode. He said that the party had raised the issue in the Assembly session based on media reports and wanted the Congress to clarify on the authenticity of the letter. On being asked as to why the ULFA has singled him out, he said that upon his arrival in Guwahati on August 24 he would be in a position to comment in details.
Governor visits affected areas, assures peace Unrest in parts of Karbi Anglong From our Correspondent
DIPHU, Aug 20: Assam Governor Lt General (Retd) Ajai Singh made an official visit for verification of the prevailing situation in the Shyampathar area under the Howraghat Police Station where some Hindi-speaking people were killed by the miscreants recently. Earlier the Governor held separate discussions with the authorities in the KAAC, Karbi Anglong district administration, representatives of the Adivasi and the Hindi-speaking communities at the Forest Inspection Bungalow, Dokmoka. Later, he held a joint meeting with the leaders of both the communities in presence of the representatives of the Karbi Anglong district administration and the KAAC. After the joint meet, Governor Singh assured the people of revisiting the district on August 24. Sources informed here that Lt Gen (Retd) Singh will constitute a peace committee with local people of the trouble-torn areas to maintain peace in the district. The Governor also asked the district administration to allow only the representatives of the KAAC and the local administration to organize peace rallies at Bokulia and Rajapathar areas of the district and not the outsiders. Later, accompanied by Mongal Singh Engti , EM, KAAC; Sum Ronghang, local AMC and EM of Shampathar area, SS Surin, EM, KAAC and Ramsing Munda, EM, KAAC, the Governor made a visit to the affected Ghanapath village of Shampathar area. During his visit he also interacted with the representatives of both the Adivasi and Hindi-speaking communities. Later, the Governor assured the people that the administration would take necessary steps to maintain peace and tranquillity in the areas. Meanwhile, the Karbi Anglong Hindi Bhasi Chatra Sangha and the Karbi Anglong Hindi Bhasi Chatra Sanstha submitted a joint memorandum to the Governor of Assam demanding immediate installation of a CRPF camp at Shampathar Ghanapathgaon, arrest of the culprits involved in the incident, allotment of houses under the IAY schemes to those whose houses were torched by miscreants, proper rehabilitation of the victims and payment of compensation to them. It may be mentioned here that both organizations have also demanded of the Governor to institute a high-level inquiry into the incident. The Assam Bhojpuri Students’ Union, Karbi Anglong unit also submitted a memorandum to the Governor in this regard.

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08/21/2005: "Naga problem political: Rio"